Jennifer Lawrence sports a Spanish-influenced look for Dior that has drawn some eye-opening reaction. (Photo by Brigitte Lacombe for Dior)

Jennifer Lawrence’s latest campaign for Dior’s Cruise 2018 Collection draws heavy inspiration from Spain, which inadvertently puts her in the middle of a conflict between the Spanish government and the breakaway region of Catalonia.

Catalonia is autonomous community of Spain located on the eastern Iberian Peninsula. It has its own customs and dress that is distinct from Spain’s.

Two years ago, 82 percent of Catalonia’s 2.3 million voters supported Catalonia’s transformation into an indpendent state. Since then, Spain has been attempting to suppress the independence movement.

The clashes recently have become violent.

Dior apparently didn’t consider the sensitivity of featuring Spanish inspired attire at a time when the nation is rocked by strife.

Critics say its latest line could be interpreted as an endorsement of, or at least tacit support for, Spain, even if the decision was unintentional.

It’s not the first time a celebrity has been caught in an embarrassing political situation.

advertisement

In 2011, Kim Kardashian, who is of Armenian descent, caused an international incident when she appeared on the cover of the Turkish edition of Cosmopolitan magazine.

The move made her an unwitting pawn in an effort to minimize “Remembrance Day,” a solemn observance in memory of millions of Armenians who were slaughtered in a genocide by Turks during World War I.

In a similar incident, two years later, George Clooneywaded into Ukrainian politics with a video message in support of demonstrators who were demanding closer ties with the European Union, a move supported at the time by pro-Nazi sympathizers.

In yet another political faux pas last year, Amanda Seyfried plunged headlong into a political confrontation between the United States and Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

She appeared on the cover of Vogue’s Russian edition, at the same time President Obama was imposing economic sanctions on Russia for its action in Ukraine.

Seyfried’s appearance was interpreted as tacit support for the Russian government. Critics claimed it could suggest prominent Americans don’t support the sanctions.

Either way, it had significant propaganda value to the Putin government.

Which just goes to show, politics and celebrity is a slippery slope.

check out the photos below, let us know your thoughts and be sure to follow IM on Twitter for the latest fashion news.

About The Author

TheImproper Staff

Keith Girard is Editor and Publisher of TheImproper, New York City’s cutting edge arts, entertainment pop culture and lifestyle Web magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of Billboard magazine and a reporter for the Washington Post among other media positions.